Sunridge Park

*****

The city of Henderson, Nevada makes every effort to put every square inch of city property to good use. The city parks reflect this effort. No matter where you live, or where you are coming from you will find that Henderson is a well-planned city with parks that are designed to keep people, locals and visitors, coming back to them. 

When I arrived at Sunridge Park the sun still had not risen above the mountain that bordered it on the east side. But, there were already a few people walking through and around the park. The park appears to be a place where locals frequent to get their exercise. Their ages ran from teen to seniors, with a couple of moms and toddlers showing up to put the playground to good use. One mom told me that she brings her kids her to tire them out so that she can get some rest. In the less than 2 hours that I was there a softball team showed up for practice, and a couple of men showed up at the tennis courts. Dogs were on leashes, but I did not see a dog walk.All reservations are on a first come first serve bases. Reservations must be made 2 weeks in advance. For more info: http://www.cityofhenderson.com/henderson-happenings/facilities/rental-information/park-and-trail-reservation-information

Park amenities: 18 acres, picnic table, playground, basebalsoftball fields, barbecues, open grass area, restrooms, covered picnic shelters, lighted tennis courts, lighted volleyball courts, lighted basketball court, open grass and multipurpose field. Walking paths are paved and easy 

Park reservation information:

http://www.cityofhenderson.com/henderson-happenings/facilities/rental-information/park-and-trail-reservation-information

*****

*****

Photography From Better World Media: Sunridge Park, Henderson, NV.

or copy and paste

http://www.bwmedia702.com/PRIMARY-TRAVEL/Henderson-NV-Parks-and-Trails/Sunridge-Park/

*****

Discovery Park

Park may already be posted.

Cornerstone Park and Railroad Lake

Dos Escules Park

Check spelling and name.

Exploration Peak Park

Mountain View Park

Paseo Verde Park

Cactus Wren Park

Ameneties: dog park, grass volleyball court, lighted basketball courts, barbecues, covered picnic shelters, picnic tables, restrooms, playground, lighted skate park, open grass area, multi-purpose fields,

*****

*****

Madeira Canyon Park

City of Henderson Park

2390 Democracy Dr., Henderson, NV 89015
Cross Streets: Canyon Retreat and Democracy Drive
Size: 20 Acre(s)
Amenities Include:
Tot Lot
Jogging and Walking Paths
2 Basketball Courts
2 Baseball/Softball Fields
Playgrounds
Picnic Areas
Open Space
4 Tennis Courts

*****

Well I have made 2 trips to Madeira Canyon Park. My first trip was four days ago in the late evening to take photographic advantage of the evening light. My second trip was to take advantage of the early morning light. That was this morning. Madeira Canyon Park is a beautiful city park located at the south edge of the Las Vegas Valley as you are climbing the South McCullough Mountain Range. This is one of the newer residential areas of the city of Henderson, and is near the Henderson Executive Airport.

There are currently 17 photos posted of this park here. Real Estate agents in the area are using my city park photos to help sell homes in the area. Prints and/or downloads and gifts are available.

Thoughts of Nevada and Oklahoma

The following graphic was just messaged to me from a lady from my home town, Dill City, Oklahoma.

(Click photo to enlarge.)

I have just gotten back from a short walk with thoughts about what I should be doing next. But, it doesn't really take much thought. If I have a dollar to travel on I will go somewhere. But, other than that there are two places that are most important to me, Nevada and Oklahoma. I will never in my life be able to see all I want to see of these two places.

The bright lights of Las Vegas and Reno beckon gamblers from around the world. To me the best light show comes from ½ hour before sundown to ½ hour after sundown, and from pre-dawn to about ½ an hour after sunrise. But, it’s the desert that beckons me, and the mountains, and the trails I love to walk. I’ve seen wild horses grazing at the edge of a lake. I’ve set in a city park at sunrise and watched coyote puppies following their mom across an open field at the edge of a busy airport. But, the road trips are what I love. As a 35-year trucker it was the drives through sparsely populated country that was my favorite drives of all, like Hwy #95 that runs north out of Las Vegas on a 450-mile trip that finals out in Reno. That drive soothes the soul. Or, take a trip up or down Hwy #93. And drive across State Route #375 (the UFO Highway) and maybe you will spot a UFO. But, when you take a hike on any of the trails keep an eye out for rattlesnakes. And always, always, always keep plenty of water with you.

The one thing I can positively say about Oklahoma is that it is in my blood. I could not wait to get away from Oklahoma seven months ago. Today, I miss family and friends from Oklahoma, and I miss the farms, the creeks, and the lakes. But, what I really find that I miss right now is the solitude of living by myself, and knowing that all I have to do is walk out of my house to end the solitude. The only thing I can say about the people of Oklahoma is that they are what everybody should be like. They are the best.

I am an Okie, but I am also a nomad. So, I will travel, and maybe make a side trip to Oklahoma.

The Vegas Strong Memorial

From Better World Media: These photos are from the memorial to the victims of the October 1, 2017 massacre at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada.

This memorial is currently located in the median and at the site of the world famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign which is right next to Mandalay Bay. For now I will say that this location is ok, but I do hope they move the memorial to a more appropriate place. Anyone who visits the memorial vs those who visit the "Welcome" sign will understand why I think this is the wrong place for a memorial. A memorial place should be a place for peaceful reflection. The "Welcome" sign tends to bring out the idiots.

Four Simple Tips for Better Photography

*****

Almost four years ago my photography business took a nose dive when I lost 140,000 images to a computer disaster. Yes, I normally have my work backed up. But, when this happened I had just returned to Oklahoma to assist members of my family with problems they were having. I did not have the computer knowledge to save my work, but I did save the hard drive that it had been on, and one day soon I hope to find a really brilliant program or computer technician that can dig into the old hard disk and recover those files. For now, it is my inability to walk away from photography that has pushed me to relocate, again, to Las Vegas and start rebuilding my dream.

Without getting too technical I thought I would share a few things that I have learned since by return to Las Vegas and to my photography work.

1.) Read your manual. I have learned to keep my camera user's manuals handy, and I use them often. For the past 3 year's I was not as involved with my photography work as I needed or wanted to be. That changed when I relocated to the Las Vegas Valley. I quickly learned that my camera knowledge had faded. But, I am getting faster at learning what settings I need.

2.) Know your camera. While I am still unsure about why my normal camera settings have drastically changed for shooting at various locations I do know that my use of exposure bracketing is very important to my work. And, while it means making more changes in the field it does save time in the editing process.

3.) Stay healthy. Water and exercise are important to my photographic specialties. My aging and battered body was in for a major surprise when I started took for my first walk on City View Trail. The information that led me to this trail described it as a "moderate" hike. Well, that was probably an accurate description for a 20-year-old professional football player, but for a 68-year-old, overweight x-trucker in was more than a tad off the mark.

4.) Work smarter, not harder. Be careful about overloading your project list. I started out behind because I did not know exactly what I wanted to do with my photography. As a result, I have spent many, many, many hours organizing, editing and posting when I wanted to be out shooting. But, I am close to having my business organized now. As a result, where it was taking me 4 or 5 days to do a shoot, edit and post it where it should be I am now down to a 2-day max. I have paid for it with a lot of lost sleep.

Photographing City Parks of the Las Vegas Valley is my current on-going project since my return to the Las Vegas Valley.

*****

St. Rose Parkway Trail. part 2

Rest Stops

*****

It was 2 weeks ago and in the mid-90's when I walked the first mile of St. Rose Parkway Trail. And, I have only been to one park since then. But, dang, it's hot out there. So, I have stayed inside where it is nice and cool. And, I don't regret it. But, when I left the house this morning it was 80 degrees and cloudy. That made for good walking.

Facts and Points of Interest
*****

As planned I began my walk at Burmuda Avenue, the end point for my first walk up this trail. And, as I said when I started walking this trail I do not expect to gain much photographically while walking this trail, but I will get exercise. I expect it to be this way for a least the next two miles of the trail. After that I may be able to find some things of interest to photograph since I will be starting to go through commercial zones.

Looking back at where I've been
*****

St. Rose Parkway Trail runs northeast from the "M" Casino/Resort at I-15. It goes for several miles, but I believe it now ends just before reaching I-215. However, there is plans to extend the path eastward along I-215 for a few miles. There are at least 64 city parks in Henderson. I have not researched the number of parks in the Las Vegas Valley. Plus, there are several paths/trails that extend outward from St. Rose Parkway Trail. So, if I am going to walk and photograph all of them I do have a lot of walking ahead of me. Which begs the question; "How am I ever going to find time to photograph anything in Vegas other than parks and trails?"

I will find a way.

All photos were shot with an iPhone 6s.